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Should you go see “The Odyssey?”

With respect and reverence for the Bosrcht Belt humor of Henny Youngman and Myron Cohen, ”It’s not a question!”

Frankly, the questions revolve more around “When?” and “Where?” not “If?.”

Christopher Nolan’s latest epic is just that … an epic.  Shot entirely on the 70mm format IMAX, seeing the film on a small screen would be a travesty.  Since there are very few theatres with the capacity to show IMAX films, the next best environment will be a theatre with a large screen, and preferably one with enhanced Dolby sound system so that the crashes and cries will resonate.  “The Odyssey” is not simply a film.  It’s an sensory experience.

Retelling the story of Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his 20 year journey to return home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and the son he has never known, Telemachus (Tom Holland) is filled with war –  the siege of Troy was no picnic – the violence and pettiness of the various gods, witches and demi-gods – Circe turning his crew members into pigs was a nasty trick – and the ethereal experiences of drugs with Calypso and conversations with the dead add up to one monumental challenge after another.

Played off against the layered trials of our hero are the intrigues and scheming happening back at home on Ithaca where Penelope is trying to keep a nasty bunch of free-loading  suitors at bay by choosing to not re-marry while protecting the throne for her son.

Much has been written about the production values that Nolan brings to this epic tale which is built on a script he wrote.  The film’s co-producer is Emma Thompson, a multi-awarded talent who has not only produced all of Nolan’s films, but is also his wife and the mother of their four children.  It’s a family affair.

Two more elements that not only deserve but require your attendance at this incredible film.  First, the cast.  Mention has been made of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland.  They are, uniformly, stunning.  Damon playing Odysseus as a mythical character consumed with remorse in the aftermath of creating the Trojan Horse, the ensuing slaughter and the tumultuous, deadly effort to return home lies at the heart of the piece.  

Hathaway, as always in her many roles, is both dynamic and tender – quite an intense mix.  Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso who ensnares Odysseus for 7 years based on feeding him memory-erasing lotus blossoms, Robert Pattinson as the loathsome, conniving Antinous (his ending actually brought a cheer from the audience) and John Leguizamo as the blind, totally dedicated swineherd Eumaeus inhabit their characters … they do not “play” them.  And, Bill Irwin.  The clown/actor has the challenge of being the animatronic double for Polyphemus, the 30 foot tall Cyclops.  To suggest he’s frightening is to spill the bucket of popcorn on the theatre floor.

The final element for this ramble is the scope of the production.  Nolan hopscotched the cast and crew across 6 countries to capture the staggering landscapes.  The intensity of barren rock islands, endless beaches, fire illuminated night battles, towering bluffs and landscapes that simply end in oblivion is palpable.  Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography which capture’s Nolan’s vision is stunning.  No other word for it. The fact that as Director of Photography, he was also camera operator for most of the production is worthy of a special mention.  The IMAX camera is heavy … cumbersome … awkward to handle.  Apparently van Hoytema would have no one but himself shoulder the behemoth and wade into each action shot, each cramped sequence inside the horse, each storm tossed scene on board the voyage home.

Production budget for “The Odyssey” has been announced as $250 Million with an additional $125 Million invested in marketing.  The old “rule of thumb” in Hollywood was that a film had to gross twice it’s negative cost to break even.  You can do the math.  Purchasing a ticket or two to this spectacle is a small price to pay for being engulfed in this much brilliance.  

Wondering if one should head to the theatre to see “The Odyssey” wasn’t a real question, but the answer is very real.  

“YES!”